Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Giants Are Mean to Cub Teenagers

The Giants combined two doubles, three singles, five walks, and an error to score seven runs in the first two innings, cruising to a 7-1 victory over the Cubs in AZ Instructional League action this afternoon at Indian School Park Field #2 in Scottsdale.  

LHP Christopher Pieters (signed as a 16-year old out of Curacao during the 2011 International Signing Period for a reported $350K) got the start for the Cubs, and could not throw strikes (33 pitches – only 11 strikes), allowing three runs on three walks and two hits (a single and a double) in the 1st inning.

RHP Alexander Santana (signed as a 16-year old out of the Dominican Republic in 2010) wasn’t any better in the 2nd inning, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits (two singles and a double) and two walks while throwing 34 pitches (only 16 strikes).

The other four Cub pitchers who took the hill today fared much better, throwing six innings of three-hit shutout ball with no walks and six strikeouts, but by that time the Giants had what proved to be an insurmountable lead.

The Cubs offense was mostly dormant, scoring their only run in the top of the 4th inning without the benefit of a hit.

Rubi Silva drew a lead-off walk and moved up to 2nd base when Dan Vogelbach reached base on a error, advanced to 3rd on a double play, and then scored on a Wild Pitch.

The Cubs are missing a number of players who started the AZIL schedule on the Active List, as 2011 1st round draft pick SS Javier Baez, 1B Rock Shoulders, OF Taiwan Easterling, 3B-1B Dustin Geiger, and C Rafael Lopez are out of action.

Easterling, Geiger, and Lopez suffered injuries (either groin, quad, hamstring, or calf) while running the bases and/or sliding last week, Shoulder suffered a torn meniscus in a base-running drill two days prior to AZIL Opening Day, and Baez has been shut-down with a sore arm for more than a week (exact nature and extent of his injury is unknown at this time).

Here is the abridged box score (Cubs players only):

LINEUP:
1. Zeke DeVoss, 2B: 0-4 (6-3, K, 5-3, K)
2a. Danny Lockhart, SS: 0-2 (6-3, 4-3, BB)
2b. Carlos Penalver, SS: 0-1 (F-7)
3. Rubi Silva, DH #1: 0-3 (K, BB, 4-3, K, R)
4. Dan Volgelbach, 1B: 1-4 (F-8, E-3, F-8, 2B)
5. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 0-3 (6-3, 1-6-3 DP, P-2, BB)
6. Yaniel Cabezas, DH #2: 2-3 (1B, F-7, 1B, BB)
7a. Mark Malave, C: 0-1 (BB, E-4)
7b. Micah Gibbs, C: 0-1 (F-7)
8. Shawon Dunston, Jr, LF: 0-3 (F-7, L-3 DP, P-5)
9a. Jeffrey Baez, CF: 0-2 (5-3, P-2)
9b. Trey Martin, CF: 0-1 (F-9)
10. Garrett Schlecht, RF: 2-3 (1B, 4-3, 1B)

PITCHERS:
1. Christopher Pieters: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 0 K, 33 pitches (11 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO
2. Alexander Santana: 1.0, 3 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 34 pitches (16 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO
3. Starling Peralta: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 39 pitches (25 strikes), 0/5 GO/FO
4. Tayler Scott: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 10 pitches (9 strikes), 3/1 GO/FO
5. Jose Arias: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 16 pitches (10 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO
6. Andrew McKirahan: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 8 pitches (5 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO

ERRORS: 1
SS Danny Lockhart - E-6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely – eventually scored unearned run)

CATCHERS DEFENSE
Mark Malave: 0-2 CS

ATTENDANCE: 31

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80’s

Comments

Kyler Burke seems to have some potential on the mound. Do the Cubs have to make a decision on adding him to the 40 man roster this offseason? What direction do you think they take going forward with him? Awesome stuff thanks AziPhil.

[ ]

In reply to by The Stick

Submitted by The Stick on Mon, 10/10/2011 - 8:23pm. Kyler Burke seems to have some potential on the mound. Do the Cubs have to make a decision on adding him to the 40 man roster this offseason? What direction do you think they take going forward with him? Awesome stuff thanks AziPhil. ==================================== THE STICK: Kyler Burke has been very impressive as a pitcher. He throws a 94 MPH fastball, a plus-curve, a change-up, and he is also now throwing a hard slider (a work in progress). I haven't thought about it a lot, but I might rate him a Cubs Top 20 prospect (as a pitcher) right now. Burke is eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft this year (December 2011), and he can be a Rule 55 Minor League Free-Agent ("Six-Year Minor League Free-Agent") after next season if he is not added to the Cubs 40-man roster by the 4th day following the conclusion of the 2012 World Series. I think the Cubs will probably take the chance that since he hasn't pitched above Boise he probably won't get selected in this year's Rule 5 Draft, but I doubt that they will allow him to walk away as a free-agent post-2012. So as long as he doesn't suffer some career-threatening injury in the meantime, I would expect him to be added to the 40-man roster post-2012 to keep him from being a minor league free-agent.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Interesting that they're deflecting some responsibility for the bad FA signings. I wonder how much of that is real and how much is them trying to build Theo's trade value.

Jackson hit .400 (10-for-25) with HR 2 2b 6r 3rbi 3bb sb. Beliveau 2g - 3ip 2h 0r 1bb 6k. Australia & Venezuela also advanced.

Cubs RHP Dillon Maples 89-92 today in instructs with poor command.

from Olney Current list of Baltimore GM candidates: Thad Levine, Josh Byrnes, J.P. Ricciardi, Tony LaCava, Gerry Hunsicker, Dan Jennings, maybe more. from Will Carroll Hearing one org is close to a decision on their GM, hope to name by the LCS/WS gap. and Arte says not necessarily looking for a GM with past experience, does imply that he's starting to listen to the analytical voices in the organization and could be part of the purge. http://www.ocregister.com/sports/moreno-321323-angels-years.html

Not a shock at all, really. It was only his 2nd appearance in instructs and I would wager that the Cubs are making some fairly substantial changes to his delivery. This usually causes an initial drop in velocity as the player adjusts and retrains his muscles. I just want him healthy and with a reworked delivery next spring.

Nice thing about the slow-paced Epstein affair, you get to read around a little bit. I'm beginning to like this guy Nick Cafardo from the Boston Globe. Funny little piece today, allegedly originating from a Starbucks near Wrigley. Cafardo also wrote this interesting longer article two days ago, which included, among other nuggets, an unsolicited testimonial by Omar Minaya for Ryne Sandberg.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

some team's fans get to be excited about people who play the game...we're in offseason 3-in-a-row of suit hunt. awesome. managers, hitting/pitching coaches, and GMs...oh my...which is going to fix the cubs this season? i think the team needs a new traveling secretary...then the wins will roll in. it'll be nice to be excited about something besides garza one day...maybe this offseason...maybe. well, kerry wood for cheap was pretty cool...but like marlon byrd coming relatively cheap, role players only fill roles...they don't carry, they support.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

hopefully, not carpenter, b.jackson, or cashner...or r.wells... hell, i'd rather mcnutty than any of those 4, even if mcnutty projects higher than r.wells...i just feel the cubs actually need r.wells. i could understand putting mcnutt in the list of "hope he doesn't go" though. wouldn't like to see vitters or golden go, but i'd consider it a lesser of many evils... it'd be nice if it's even less than any of these options.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.